AL Central

1st - Kansas City Royals

There is no reason not to believe in these Royals once again.  This team doesn't blow anyone away on paper, but it never has and it's been to back to back World Series winning the last one.  This team lives on the abstract and intangible.  No other team exists in baseball with more chemistry than these Kansas City Royals.  The talent on this roster is more or less the same as the past couple of seasons.  The only factor present that differs from the past is that they are coming off finally winning a title.  The motivation last season came from doubts that they could ever get back to the World Series and finish the job.  Now, where will the motivation come from?  Will there be a hangover?  I don't believe there will be.  The psyche of this team will overcome any hangover effects.  The resigning of the Alex Gordon in itself tells the story of this team.  Most of these players know that they may not be able to keep this special roster together for too many more years.  Lorenzo Cain, Wade Davis, Alcides Escobar, Eric Hosmer, Mike Moustakas, and Greg Holland all  have contracts expiring within the next two seasons.  The Royals, being the small market team that they are, will not be able to take on all of their new and most likely more lucrative contracts.  That being said, the Royals will be in it to win it all for the next two seasons and there really isn't much in their way in the Central Division. 

2nd - Cleveland Indians

The Indians are the only team that has the potential to dethrone the Royals in the division.  The pitching staff is deep and growing more dangerous each passing season.  Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, and Danny Salazar are among the best 1-2-3 punches in baseball and behind them is a decent amount of depth with Trevor Bauer, Josh Tomlin, and Cody Anderson rounding out the back end of the rotation. Cody Allen is a top of the closer with plenty of depth behind him as well.  It's the offense that's tough to judge in Cleveland.  The offense heavily leans on Michael Brantley's rehabbing shoulder.  Jason Kipnis, Francisco Lindor, Carlos Santana, among others need to hold the lineup together until Brantley can heal and get back on the field.  Once he's back and healthy the lineup will be more complete and dangerous. This team depends on a lot of things going right in 2016, but if everything does fall into place, they could be one of the best teams in all of major league baseball and especially scary in the post-season with a pitching staff of such high caliber arms.

3rd - Detroit Tigers  

The Tigers will finish third in this division, but the separation will be noticeable here as they will not be close to the two teams above them.  They did make some decent moves in the off-season acquiring Justin Upton and Jordan Zimmerman which will help them avoid the basement.  The offense is the obvious forte here with Miguel Cabrera feeling the healthiest he's been in awhile.  Victor Martinez and Ian Kinsler may be on the downside of their careers, but still have a good amount of offense in them left to give.  J.D. Martinez loves hitting in this lineup and should continue to be an impact and Justin Upton should be influenced the same way.  Beyond the the batter's box, this team is pretty abysmal.  Unless Justin Verlander has some magical resurrection, there's no depth beyond Zimmermann who can be a very good number 2 or 3 starter, but is not an ace.  The bullpen is just as horrid.  Bruce Rondon has not lived up to any sort of expectations as a future closer, which has had them scramble.  Francisco Rodriguez at the moment is there only other option, which is nothing to get excited about.  The Tigers are living on a prayer in 2016 and are most likely headed towards years of rebuilding with their big stars battling father time.

4th - Chicago White Sox

The only real assets that the White Sox have going into 2016 are Jose Abreu and Chris Sale.  The remaining roster seems to be littered with players either in the twilight of their career (e.g. Adam LaRoche) or in a under-performing quagmire they can't seem to pull themselves out of (e.g. Mat Latos, Brett Lawrie).  Avisail Garcia, Carlos Rodon, and Tyler Saladino head what is a relatively pedestrian youth movement in south Chicago.  Alright, maybe I'm not being fair to this team.  Todd Frazier, Adam Eaton, and closer David Robertson are definitely play makers that will help this team avoid the cellar, but in the end this team will finish towards the bottom of this division.

5th - Minnesota Twins

The Twins finished in second place last season after an incredible start, which surprised everyone in the baseball world.  This team is definitely trending upwards against the Tigers who are trending down, but I believe it will be another year or two before they become legitimate contenders in this division.  Byron Buxton and Miguel Sano are at the core of what the Twins' future will look like, but they have a ways to go before they prove themselves.  Nonetheless they will make the offense interesting to watch .  In regards to pitching, there's not much to feel good about.  Phil Hughes, Ervin Santana, and Tommy Milone are all underwhelming and their once highly touted prospect, Kyle Gibson, is already 28 and hasn't tapped any sort of potential.  The bullpen can be decent, but it will not be enough to save the starting rotation.  The Twins' 2015 season surprise finish will be long forgotten when they are struggling to stay out of the basement in 2016.

NL Central

1st - Chicago Cubs

The Cubs are primed for their first World Series win since 1908, and most definitely will be highly competitive for a long time to come. The core of youth on this team is incredible.  Anthony Rizzo was the first of young superstar studs to grace their major league roster back in 2012, coming over from the Padres in a trade that involved Andrew Cashner (He was also involved in a trade that sent Adrian Gonzalez from San Diego to Boston).  Since then the roster has been reinforced with high caliber young talent left and right most notably last year when Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber made an impact on the big league club.  Addison Russell and Jorge Soler are still trying to find their niche, but when they do they will only solidify what is an all around scary lineup.  The acquisition of Jayson Hayward and resigning of Dexter Fowler give them a load of depth in the outfield.  Hayward will improve their defense exponentially as well.  The batting lineup will strike out a ton but they will also score a ton of runs.  The crutch with this team lies in it's pitching staff.  Jake Arrieta has emerged as one of the most dominant starters in all of baseball but the second and third spots in the pitching staff come with an approaching expiration date.  Jon Lester has quite the impressive resume including many playoff accolades, but his dominant days are trending downwards and John Lackey's career twilight is upon us.  Meanwhile Jason Hammel and Kyle Hendricks are nothing but a mediocre presence, but then again they are solid arms for being the 4th and 5th starters on a pitching staff.  As with the Blue Jays, this staff just needs to hold its own.  The high powered offense will take care of the rest. 

2nd - St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals can be considered the best managed franchise in baseball or in all of sports for that matter.  Their proficiency in forming well-rounded rosters season to season while being fiscally efficient were unprecedented in the modern era and is more increasingly being emulated by other franchises today. This team is able to balance an assortment of big time talent and smaller pieces to fit together a roster that consistently competes at a high level. Every facet of their roster is headed by a superstar who is then surrounded by complimentary talent.  Adam Wainwright heads a pitching staff that compliments him with younger talents in Michael Wacha and Carlos Martinez.  Wainwright himself has vowed to return with a vengeance and will be back to his dominant form making this pitching staff all the more dangerous in 2016, even with the loss of Lance Lynn to Tommy John surgery.  One of the best closers in the game, Trevor Rosenthal, anchors what is a deep bullpen.  There are performance and injury concerns in the bullpen with Jonathan Broxton and Jordan Walden as respective examples but there are some real diamonds in the rough in the back end of that crew which comes in the form of Kevin Siegrist.  Yadier Molina will of course be the conductor of all of these arms as long as he can stay on the field.  Matt Holliday is their horse in the lineup and has been surrounded by complimentary talent that allows for a productive lineup and tight defense. Stephen Piscotty and Randall Grichuk solidify the outfield nicely.  Matt Carpenter and Jhonny Peralta are their ambassadors in the infield.  This franchise has put together a roster with few holes which should result in another finish atop the division.  They will put a lot of pressure on the Cubs and if the Cubbies make one misstep, the Cards will snatch the division right from under them! 

3rd - Pittsburgh Pirates

The Bucs are on the downswing.  Their window of opportunity is closing and closing fast.  It's a shame they couldn't take advantage of their open window but they did also get incredibly unlucky having to oppose two of the hottest pitchers in the sport in the wild card game the past two years .  The outlook for their 2016 campaign is bleak especially with the Cubs skyrocketing in talent over the past couple of seasons and the Cardinals looking as strong as ever. They still have the capacity to be in the mix in the NL Central, but will ultimately not have enough to get back into a playoff spot.  The offense and defense for that matter is very outfield-heavy.  The infield will not miss Pedro Alvarez defensively, but the lineup will surely miss his power. Jung Ho Kang's health is still in question.  First base is a toss up between Michael Morse and John Jaso and probably someone else when both don't produce enough or stay on the field enough.  The pitching is still their strongest weapon but other than Gerrit Cole, it is waning. Cole will take another step in being one of the best power pitchers in the game, but the starters behind him from Francisco Liriano to Jon Niese to Jeff Locke to Ryan Vogelsong will be satisfactory at best.  Top prospect right Tyler Glasnow could bring some pizzazz to the rotation, but may not be ready to be an impact on the major league club in 2016.  The bullpen will be taxed heavily in 2016, and even though there are decent amount of talented arms at the back end, they will most likely burn out towards the end.  This franchise can trump the Cubbies and Cards, but they need to make a move or two in order to flirt with that fantasy.

4th & 5th - Milwaukee Brewers and Cincinnati Reds

The heading doesn't necessarily have to be thought of as respectively.  Honestly, it's a waste of time to write a forecast for these two franchises.  The rosters for both of these franchises will look completely different come August.  Both teams will be "tanking" this year.  Both teams are in the middle of rebuilding.  Everyone will be going.  Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce, an Devin Mesoraco are a few names for the Reds that still will be dealt.  The Brewers will be pushing Jonathan Lucroy and Ryan Braun on general managers all season long.  Both of these teams will be excruciatingly painful to watch in 2016.

 

Resources:

 

<rotoworld.com>

<baseball-reference.com>

<espn.com>

 

Image resources:

 

Royals: <http://www.kansas.com/sports/mlb/kansas-city-royals/ryg6cm/picture2402090/ALTERNATES/FREE_640/RoyalsWildCard%20al%20093014%200775f.jpg> 

Justin Verlander: <http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/66/files/2012/10/6271790.jpg>

 

Cardinals <http://cdn.fansided.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/229/files/2013/10/7745532.jpg>

MLB Preseason Predictions - AL & NL East

Analysts and sports pundits make a living off of forecasting standings and stats and are most of the time laughably incorrect.  So, I figured why not give it a shot myself.  How much more wrong or less credible could I be than those who get paid the big bucks by big media corporations to spit ball predictions based on past stats and gut feelings? I guess only time will tell. 

Baseball may be one of the most difficult sports to predict.  There are an almost infinite number of variables that go into the longest sports season in existence, but that's what arguably makes it the most exciting to discuss and predict!  I will be predicting only the places each team will come in. I find exact record predictions to be arbitrary. First, I will cover the eastern divisions. Anyway, here goes nothing:

AL East

1st - Toronto Blue Jays

 

The Blue Jays had an in-your-face explosion of a season in 2015 slugging its way to the ALCS where they ultimately lost to a pesky and almost inexplicably good Kansas City Royals team.  This team will be out to prove they can finish the job in 2016 especially when they have one the most outspoken, passionate cores in all of baseball with Jose Bautista and Josh Donaldson at the helm.  Yes, the cliche often states that defense and pitching wins championships, but if offense is going to win a title it will be this offense. It's just way too overwhelmingly dynamic to count them out in any game or any series.  They also happen to play 81 games in one of the most hitter friendly parks in the league.  Now, this team isn't just one dimensional either.  Pitching does exist in Toronto and some of it is pretty good if not really good.  Marcus Stroman heads a rotation that surely does have question marks but also a decent amount of potential with the likes of Drew Hutchinson and Aaron Hernandez.  The bullpen can definitely be considered a weak spot but 21 year old closer ,Roberto Osuna, has a power pitching caliber live arm that already made waves last season.   Honestly, all the rotation and bullpen needs to be is mediocre for Toronto to win a lot of games.  The offense will do the rest. 

2nd - New York Yankees

Yes, as a Mets fan it pains me to rank the Yankees this high and in the playoff discussion but even though father time looms large over this entire roster, it's still pretty solid and deep.  Question marks are abound and plentiful but so is pure experience and stacked resumes.  Injury concerns will play a huge role in the Yankees' season as just about every roster spot seems to be prone to it, again mainly due to age, but if the Yankees can stay predominantly healthy they can come out towards the top in the crap shoot that the AL East will be this season . The bullpen is the forte even with Aroldis Chapman's off the field troubles that may result in suspension.  The lineup will need to be shuffled constantly, but still has some decent pop especially with Yankee Stadium's band box factors.  The defense may also be deceptively good.  Even though most position players aren't as spry as they once were most have strong defensive histories (Beltran, Teixeira).  Starlin Castro should see a bit of a revival at second where less range is asked from his bigger build and Didi Gregorious is a better defensive short shop than Derek Jeter ever was (that should ruffle some feathers).  So yes, this team's success leans on the questionable health and performance of Teixeira, A-Rod, Beltran, Ellsbury, Sabathia, Tanaka and so on and so forth, but if even a couple of these guys can put together a complete season, the Yankees will be in good shape.

3. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles are the most interesting team in this division.  The offense is just riddled with power that's not on the same level as the Blue Jays but still very scary.  There aren't many staffs in the division of the AL that can counter this power, but they can be had.  The Rays and Indians for example could have a strike out field day with this roster which is concerning, but overall the offense should win this team a lot of games.  Zach Britton is a dominant anchor as the closer for this team and the defense is more or less solid with the likes of Manny Machado, J.J. Hardy, and Adam Jones gracing the diamond.  The major doubts for this team lies within the starting rotation as it has for years.  This is not a result of a lack of trying. It just so happens that the pitching draft picks they invested in didn't pan out as starting pitchers and have either ended up off the roster or in the bullpen (e.g. Brian Matusz, Zach Britton).  It's a shame the Orioles can't put together a complete team because now, based on the age and contracts of players on their roster, their window of opportunity to be legitimate contenders for a World Series is very quickly coming to a close.

4. Boston Red Sox

Many people seem to be forcing themselves to believe in these Red Sox for some reason, but whether you like it or not, this is not the same caliber team that won 3 World Series in the early 2000's.  The Red Sox culture is egregiously toxic and no not an "idiots" kind of toxic, but more of a  zero chemistry, high tension, low motivation type of toxic.  The tension may be created by the team itself but extends to Red Sox Nation which is just not having any of it.  Sure, they may still be stuck in the past ruminating about their bearded heroes, but this fan base does have the right to higher expectation of this franchise.  This franchise has been through quite a renaissance in the last decade and a half.  A step back should not be tolerated, but that seems to be the current culture in this clubhouse right now.  From Hanley Ramirez to Pablo Sandoval to even guys like Craig Kimbrel and Dustin Pedroia, there's much to prove.  The bright spot on this team is their young outfield.  Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley, and Rusney Castillo are going to be good, maybe really good but may still be at least a year away.  The pitching staff is underwhelming with, unproven playoff ace, David Price at the helm.  Let's not forget that Price and David Ortiz (the face of the franchise by the way) never got along in the past. Ortiz isn't safe from scrutiny here either as he seems selfishly ensconced in his upcoming farewell tour.  This rosters just screams malcontent and unlikely to gel together to make a run for the top of this division. 

5. Tampa Rays

Many will disagree about my placement of the Rays in the predictions.  The Rays are the perdurable, lovable underdogs and many predict they will catch everyone off guard and finish among the top of this division.  Yes, they have proven to have done that in the past, but as each year passes by, Joe Maddon's fingerprints on the franchise fade a bit more and whether you agree with me or not, Maddon had a huge role in pushing this franchise to overachieve in the past. There is definitely some talent here but I also see through the lovable underdog mantra and what I see are disappointments and perennial duds.   Steven Sousa, Corey Dickerson, and Hank Conger are all players who are having a real hard time reaching their potential or just staying on the field or both.  There are also plenty of other players on the roster that emanate inconsistency or only one dimensional acumen.  Outfielders, Kevin Keirmaier and Desmond Jennings, and closer, Brad Boxberger, all fall into this category.  The pitching staff can be really good depending on the health and continued rehabilitation of Alex Cobb and Matt Moore (Cobb will most likely miss the first half of the season recovering from Tommy John surgery).  Drew Smyly and Jake Odorizzi are above average starters and well Chris Archer is a real deal ace. With that said, I don't think that the starting rotation can carry what is a very unimpressive rest of the roster anywhere towards the top of this division.  Joe Maddon may have been able to prove me wrong in the past, but that was the past and he now resides in Chicago. 

NL East

1st - New York Mets 

 

Yes, I'm a Mets fan, but most know that predicting them to finish first in the NL East can be justified.  It was also difficult to push that good ol' Mets fan pessimism aside to predict them in this spot. Plus, for those of you who are Mets fans and follow them closely know that this year in the grand scheme of things was labeled years ago as being the year to win it all.  Last year wasn't really even supposed to happen until this year!  The Mets just happened to arrive a bit early.  Now, this is the first time in a long time that the Mets have to live up to high expectations.  It takes special kinds of athletes to overcome that kind of stress, but the Mets seem to have what it takes.  It hardly needs to be said that the bread and butter of this team is the pitching staff.  Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz and down the line, Zach Wheeler will make for one of the most dynamic young pitching staffs in the league and could blossom into one that sidles up to any staff all-time.  Sure, the favorite in the NL to makes the World Series in the NL are the Cubs, but short memories seem to forget how staunchly the Mets staff shut down the Cubs bats in the NLCS.  This staff is now a year more experienced with Harvey another year removed from surgery.  If anything this staff will be stronger than last season which is pretty scary for any lineup in the league.  The bullpen should also be better with of course arguably one of the best closers in the game in Jeurys Familia patrolling the mound in the ninth behind a stronger cast of arms.  The lack of left-handed talent was a crutch for the Mets' pen last year.  Well, 2016 will see the return of lefties Josh Edgin and Jerry Blevins.  The Mets also acquired Antonio Bastardo in the off-season, so left handed help should be boutiful.  The bottom line shows that the Mets are seemingly infinitely deep  in capable arms both in the rotation and in the bullpen. The offense will be more complete as well having Yoenis Cespedes around for a whole season and the defense improves with Asdrubal Cabrera and Neil Walker manning the middle infield.  They may not vastly improve the defense, but they should be much more consistent than having Wilmer Flores at short everyday or the inconsistent, knuckle-headed Daniel Murphy at second.  The biggest weakness is their depth on the bench which mid-season moves could easily mend being they have plenty of pitching that could be used as bait.   This team has improved in every possible facet and should contend for a World Series. 

2nd - Washington Nationals

The Nats are still a dangerous team. but definitely took a step backwards.  The biggest problem in the nation's capital seems to be their youth movement strategy.  They are obviously built to win now, but that notion seems to be blinding the front office in regards to letting their youth find their place on the team.  Players like Michael Taylor and Trea Turner can't seem to get their careers off the ground because they are being squelched by low impact acquisitions to the likes of Daniel Murphy and Ben Revere.  The success of this team will depend on the health of Ryan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg, and Anthony Rendon.  If these three can stay on the field, this team will contend for first place with the Mets.  The brass also needs to realize that Trea Turner is the better option at shortstop over Danny Espinosa and that Micheal Taylor needs more playing time over Revere.  The starting rotation may not be as overpowering and deep as the Mets but the depth is there.  Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg are legitimate aces.  Joe Ross looks as if he can really impact the rotation.  Gio Gonzalez needs to rebound on what was a pedestrian 2015 season.  Beyond that there's Tanner Roark, A.J. Cole, and Taylor Jordon who are all serviceable starters that could be mixed and matched to make this a complete rotation. The bullpen depth will be suspect with the disliked Jonathan Papelbon currently slated to close out their ballgames although he did finally apologize for choking out the Nationals pride and joy.   Bryce Harper hasn't been mentioned until now because everyone knows this is his team being arguably the best hitter in the game.  The Nationals needs to rally around him in order to make a big run in 2016.

3rd - Miami Marlins

The Marlins at best will reserve the role of giving the top two teams in this division a hard time from time to time.  Giancarlo Stanton and Jose Fernandez headline what is a very mediocre roster hence why they will finish third in the NL East.  The Marlins cannot be considered for any kind of contention for a division title or playoff birth until 2017.  Giancarlo will be watched closely as he returns from a hamate bone injury and Fernandez will be on an innings limit coming off Tommy John surgery.  Those factors alone disallow me to rank them any higher for 2016.  The future does look bright for Miami as 2016 should allow young players including Christian Yelich and Marcell Ozuna to take another step towards legitimate impact players  The rotation is extremely suspect and definitely will need some attention in upcoming seasons, but overall these Marlins are on the right path.  Don Mattingly should be a better fit in Miami than he was in L.A. because he doesn't have as many high profile personalities to manage which will allow him to really implement his own culture in the clubhouse. Barry Bonds will also be an interesting personality to watch as he was hire in the off-season as the Marlins hitting coach.  The Marlins have a more immediately brighter future than the bottom two teams in this division.  However, 2016 will result in nothing but a transitional season and being the middle of an NL East sandwich.

4th - Atlanta Braves

This franchise has been at the top of this division for so long.  Seeing and predicting them to finish towards the bottom of the division irks even a die-hard Mets fan, but the truth is in the roster.  This franchise is in the middle of what many have coined as "tanking."  The Braves of course will never admit it but the roster shows that they have no intent on being a contender of any sort this season.  The goal is to lose and lose incessantly in order to gain high end picks in upcoming drafts.  Now, of course it's never easy to lose on purpose, but many of these players will not be able to compete at a professional level.  I give the Braves the 4th spot here because the Phillies may just be a bit better at losing on purpose, plus the Braves will put together a few more wins thanks to a few more bright spots on the roster which include Freddie Freeman of course as well as Julio Teheran, Ender Inciarte and the potential of Hector Olivera.

5th - Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies have Maikel Franco.  That's it!  Philadelphia fan have nothing else to look forward to in 2016.  This team is set up to fail and fail hard.  The Phillies will no doubt be one of the worst teams in baseball if not the worst.  Attendance or lack there of may even break records this season. 

I know what you're thinking...these predictions almost mirror the standings at the end of the 2015 season with the only contrast being that the Red Sox and Rays are swapped. Well, that goes to show that not much has changed since last season in both of these divisions.  There weren't really any earth shattering off-season moves for any of these teams.  The biggest moves were the Mets securing Cespedes, the Red Sox adding David Price, and the Yankees acquiring Aroldis Chapman.  I don't believe any of these moves will result in any drastic changes to these divisions.  If anything, all of the moves including lower impact ones, balance each other out. 

Check back in a few days for the central division predictions!


Resources:

<www.baseball-reference.com>

<www.rotoworld.com>


Image sources:

baseball: <http://static1.squarespace.com/static/54d95da7e4b0661469ecded6/t/54ed010be4b0079be57fba6a/1424818443886/mainpagebg2.jpg>

Jose Bautista: <http://assets2.sportsnet.ca/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/bautista_flip-1040x572.jpg>

Pablo Sandoval belly: <http://p.o0bc.com/rf/image_700w/Boston/2011-2020/2016/02/21/Boston.com/ReceivedContent/Images/davis_st221-8_spts.jpg>

Mets Rotation: <https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CVz7oO0WIAA54jg.jpg>

Jose Fernandez: <http://a.fssta.com/content/dam/fsdigital/RSN/Florida/2015/9/12/091215-fsf-mlb-miami-marlins-fernandez-PI.vresize.1200.675.high.70.jpg>

Phillies Misery Index: <http://images.performgroup.com/di/library/sporting_news/a9/2b/phillies-misery-index-120915-ftrjpg_jyqeaf0rxhx81dv89ijj1vjhp.jpg?t=-1839718351&h=600>

Out With The Old And In With The New

Farewell tours have been trending in sports in recent years.  Of course, not any player can announce retirement and expect a valediction across the league honoring career achievements.  The player needs to be special, mostly liked, and have had a career that deserves a eulogistic farewell. These good-byes are usually accompanied with the idea of "passing the torch" or a "changing of the guard" if you will.  With each legend hanging up their respective cleats, sneakers, or skates emerges a new face that will grace our TV screens, fill the radio airwaves with statistical debates, and inspire a whole new generation of sports fanatics for the years ahead.  Superstars  from each major sport that have just left the game or coming towards the end of their run will be ranked and discussed against the new faces of each league and association. This article may be inspired by thoughts of spring as it's out with the old and in with the new.

Now the context of "The Old" will include players who have just retired (within a year) or are on their way out (predictably within a year or 2 of retiring).  "The New" are those either just entering their respective leagues or have only 2 or less years of professional experience and have that potential to be a future star for years to come. Each of the four major sports will be covered and the top 3 players both old and new will be ranked based solely on my opinion. If you know me and find that my opinions are incredulous, then this read is not for you, but if you do go on to read I believe you will find the lists to be mostly fair and credible.  The following will shine a light on those fading into sports lore and those whose careers are just beginning to bloom.

NFL

The Old

1. Peyton Manning

Not often is the idea"out with the old and in with the new" thrust so obviously in our faces in this year's Superbowl.  Peyton Manning's waning, but already legendary career headed the news ticker of Superbowl 50.  Meanwhile Cam Newton's brand has completely exploded onto the NFL scene.  The changing of the guard seems to be happening right in front of our faces as the two generations squared off in an epic showdown.  But solely speaking of Manning here, his ticket to the Hall of Fame has already been stamped.  The 39 year old cerebral assassin is assuredly one of the top quarterbacks to play in the NFL and arguably the best.  A second Superbowl ring has really put a nice bow on his career.  If this really was his walk off into the sunset, he really couldn't have done it any better and with more class.  There's few that have been more respected and more liked in the game of football and less than few that have been better all time.

2. Charles Woodson

Not often do fans get to cherish a career such as Woodson's.  The former Heisman trophy winner put together an NFL resume that spanned 18 years! Woodson's farewell tour just came to an end playing in his final season of an incredible 18 year career and taking part in his last of 9 Pro Bowl games.  The 39 year old safety was also a 3 time first-team All Pro. Woodson has been quite the ambassador or the game and has been and idol to many aspiring safetys an corners who wish to emulate his dedication, intelligence and love for the game.  News has already broke that he will be joining ESPN's team of analysts.  Many are looking forward to hear his in depth take on a game he played so well.

3. Calvin Johnson

"Megatron's" career may have come to an end quite suddenly in some fans' eyes but Calvin Johnson did not get his nickname from treading lightly through his NFL career.  Johnson was an absolute beast on the football field physically and left it all out on the turf day in and day out.  He used that "Megatron" type build of his to punish anyone unlucky enough to take on the challenge of covering him and did whatever he could to reel in the pigskin.  Repeated blows from opposing corners and from the turf falling back to earth after almost inhuman vertical leaps shortened what has been an incredible 9 year career in the NFL.    It's a shame to see him go maybe a few years too early, but he will go down as one of the all time great wide receivers.

The New

1. Odell Beckham Jr.

OBJ's first two years in the league could not have been more dynamic.  In the day and age of fantasy sports and emphasis on stats, Odell has captured fans' imagination with electric flares of athletic prowess. His incredible one-handed catches may be some of the best catches we will ever see in the NFL. The stats are there as well of course, but the modern day athlete and future athletes to come will have the added feat of trying to separate themselves from numbers on a stat sheet.  Odell has already done that. The future could not be brighter for the New York Giants wide-out even though it may be hard to top the theatrics he's already archived in video databases everywhere. 

2. Todd Gurley

The St. Louis Rams picked Todd Gurley 10th overall in the 2015 draft to basically fill the shoes of Stephen Jackson, which is who Gurley more or less reminds me of.  The 21 year old halfback put together a pro-bowl caliber season in his rookie year and will rush the Rams into a successful future. The move to L.A. will only enhance the deserved spotlight on his blooming potential.  The quarterback question in L.A. looms large for the franchise and the future of this talent, but Gurley seems to have what it takes to put the team on his back.

3. Derek Carr

Derek Carr is another one of those young talents seemingly buried in the sports quagmire that is Oakland  Derek is only 24 and has only been in the league for 2 years but had already shown substantial growth and maturity.  The California native seems to feel right at home in Oakland as the Raiders have done a great job surrounding him with complimentary young talent including Amari Cooper who could easily be mentioned on this list as well.  The future of Oakland as a home base seems bleak but the franchise is definitely headed in the right direction with Derek Carr slated to be at the helm for the foreseeable future.

NBA

The Old

1. Kobe Bryant

How much really needs to be said about the Black Mamba? The lifetime L.A. Laker is currently on his farewell tour as teams all around the league honor a spectacular 20 year career.  The Philadelphia native took the association by storm at the age of 18.  There have been highs and lows on and off the court  during the illustrious career including a jersey number change and  sexual assault case but the numbers were always steady.  They speak for themselves and if more is needed to credit him with one of the best careers of all time, the Black Mamba also accrued 5 championship rings.  One can go on and on about all of his honors and awards.  The bottom line is that Kobe has been one of the best shooting guards to play the game and will be missed by many when he steps off the court for the last time. 

2. Tim Duncan

We are seeing a trend in this top three list.  Once again, Duncan here is a lifer.  Playing in his 19th NBA season, all for the San Antonio Spurs, Duncan has quietly been one of the most consistent players in the game.  The Spurs have always been an "under the radar" team which doesn't help the quiet NBA Center get any exposure, but that's his style. Duncan is very unlike Kobe in his fanfare but very much like Kobe in his ring wear.  Duncan dons five rings as well and his accolades include 2 MVP awards (one more than Kobe).  Flare may not be his forte, but if anyone in the game should be emulated for work ethic, respect, and humility, it should be Tim Duncan.  Both Kobe an Duncan can be interchangeable at the 1 and 2 ranks.  You can't really go wrong either way. Kobe gains the slight edge because his game-play was a bit more dynamic.

3. Dirk Nowitzki 

What is this? Another lifer?  The professional sports lifer is a dying breed in the modern era of free agency and huge contracts.  Yes, the Big German Dirk has been a lifelong Dallas Maverick and will go down as the greatest Maverick of all time.  Now, Dirk doesn't have the rings that the previously mentioned have, but he did secure one and he does have an MVP award on his resume.  Nowitzki is another prime example of consistency over his career and can be considered a sort of fusion of Kobe Bryant and Tim Duncan.  Whether position as a forward or center, the 7 footer can be a big presence in the paint, but can also take to the perimeter to drain a jump shot or a three.  Dual threats like him are few and far between and highly sought after nowadays over the one dimensional big man that used to dominate the NBA. Sure, the big man from Germany may not be on the level of Duncan or the Black Mamba, but he doesn't rank too far behind.

The New

1. Karl-Anthony Towns

Hailing from New Jersey, the 2015 number 1 overall pick has an extremely bright future.  Towns is part of this modern wave of big men that includes the likes of Kristaps Porzingis.  This new breed of big man can move, shoot, rebound, and block.  Towns has edged Porzingis in most categories this year giving him an edge in rank.  Porzingis just happens to be a little more dangerous from the 3-point arch but both have similar future potential.  Towns does have better potential talent surrounding him mainly from the presence of Andrew Wiggins on the same roster.  As long as they stay together in Minnesota, Towns and Wiggins should gel in what could be a major dynamic duo in the NBA for years to come. 

2. Kristaps Porzingis

New York is extremely excited about the potential the 4th overall pick in the 2015 draft holds.  Many who have seen him play during his short time so far in the league compare him almost reluctantly to Dirk Nowitski.  I say "reluctantly" because the potential for his exceeds the talent of Nowitski.  Porzingis is slated as a true two way player and has been pegged as a sort of anomaly that the league has never seen before. This Latvian monolith stands at 7 foot 3 inches and weighs around 240 pounds.  Usually a body built in such a way makes for a player that can only handle one dimension of the game, but not in this power forward's case.  Porzingis has agility unlike any other big men ever seen which allows him to keep up with almost anyone on defense and allows him to get open more often on offense in which he's dangerous as well because he also happens to be a big man that can shoot extremely well. 

3. Andrew Wiggins

Wiggins is mainly known for being the major cog in the trade that included Kevin Love to the Cavs.  The trade also made room for Lebron James who was returning to Cleveland.  The pressure of being compare to Lebron was immediately thrust onto Andrew's shoulders and many critics believe he's already a disappointment.  Of course this sentiment is indubitably unfair.  Wiggins was the first overall pick in the 2014 draft and comes will a complete skill set that should allow him to blossom into a top shooting guard in the league for the Minnesota Timberwolves. Wiggins and Towns have the potential to put Minnesota on the map in the NBA as long as they can stick together. 

MLB

The Old

1. Albert Pujols

Whether you like it or not, Pujols is in his twilight years.  The 36 year old first basemen has been the premier all around player in the league for years.  Playing most of his prime years with the St. Louis Cardinals, Pujols hit for power, average, and played an extremely efficient first base.  Even on the base-paths, you could say Pujols was a threat because he knows the game so well and can completely break down any situation on the field.  Albert is now a true ambassador of the game, setting the perfect example for baseball's up and coming youth.

2. David Ortiz

Big Papi has been one of the last generation's faces of baseball and has announced that this will be his last season.  I believe that even Yankee fans will hold back a tear when seeing Ortiz stride up to the plate for the very last time.  You can say what you want about his HGH suspension and that he's one dimensional for not being able to play the field, but Big Papi has had a huge effect on the game and carried himself with much class especially towards kids. Derek Jeter fans will argue who is more clutch, but Ortiz is right up there for one of the most clutch players ever to fill a batters box!  When watching games we will always come up with the most dramatic scenarios in our heads that could win the game.  Well, Big Papi would take those dreams and make it reality more often than not.  The soon to be 20 year veteran was exciting as they come at the plate.

3. Torii Hunter

When a discussion about complete players surfaces, Torii Hunter always comes to mind.  Yes, Hunter is known more for his defense which is of course justified as he swiftly dominated center field for years (and later on, right field). When thinking of Torii most people will run a highlight reel in their minds of countless times Hunter scaled the center field wall to rob homers or run down what seemed to be an unreachable fly ball, but the 17 year veteran was quite th threat at the plate as well.  This athletic completeness coupled with the fact that he was also a true gentleman of the game (2009 Branch Rickey award winner) makes Torii Hunter one of the best players of the latest generation. 

The New

1. Carlos Correa

The Astros' young shortstop hit the league with some hype of his own and rightfully so.  Like, Bryant he will be an offensive asset which makes him even more valuable because of his position. Correa has also been tagged with extraordinary defensive aptitudes well.  Time will of course tell, but the future of this 21 year old is as bright as can be. 

2. Kris Bryant

Can you break into the majors with anymore hype than this man had?   Baseball fans were salivating at the prospect of Bryant's splash in the big leagues and he did not disappoint.  Yes, he did slog a bit after a fast start, but all in all he backed his hype and proved that he will be a major force in the middle of the line up for years to come. The talent that surrounds Bryant is vast as well which will only help the slugger rise to stardom on the Cubs.

3. Jose Fernandez

The Marlins' starting pitcher can still be considered for this futures list because he's only put together one full season in the big leagues in 3 years so far.  Tommy John surgery has stunted his young career, but he's healed and is ready to embrace his potential stardom.  The level that he can bring the heat and get movement on the ball exceeds most others in the game.  The lefty is one of the most dynamic young pitchers toeing the rubber and will be one of the most exciting to watch for years to come.

NHL

The Old

1. Jaromir Jagr

Now it may be very assuming of me to forecast that Jagr is a year or two away from retirement, but I just cannot exclude him from this list.  The timeless wonder incredibly enough is still playing in the NHL at the age of 43 and is still playing at a very productive level currently for the Florida Panthers.  Jagr's career has spanner over 3 decades beginning in 1990 at the age of 18!  To be able to play a game that ensues so much wear and tear on the body for so long is a feat in itself and to play it on such a high level is something that any athlete of whom has played any sport can respect.  The Czhech Republic native truly loves the game and has been one of the best scorers to ever grace the ice whether it was in the NHL or the sporadic years he took his talents to Europe when the NHL didn't want him.  Never has his drive to playe hockey wavered in his long, storied career and is something everyone should aspire to.

2. Jarome Iginla 

This 20 year veteran can be considered one of the most well rounded players to ever play the game.  Being swift and agile, Iginla could also be a physical presence on the ice.  Both finding the back of the net and setting the table were a part of his game.  The 6-time All-Star has led the league in goals, points, and many other categories over the course of his career.  Jarome has taken a back seat in the latter portion of his NHL life but was the main man in Calgary for a decade and a half. There aren't too many in hockey that have worn the "C" on their chest so well.  

3. Joe Thorton

One of the bigger presences on the ice, Thorton could take control of a game all on his own.  Always knocked for being on teams that were great in the regular season, but scuffled in the post season, there is no denying that Joe has been a team centerpiece-type talent.  Like Iginla, Thorton has been the face of a franchise.  San Jose has been his home for 11-plus seasons and has been most loved there. The 6-time All-Star forward defined a decade of Sharks hockey and has prepare the next generation of Sharks to take the reigns. 

The New

1. Connor McDavid

 

The Edmonton Oilers have been in the bowels of the standings for years and every year there is hype on a new drafted prospect that never seems to pan out whether because of injury or not being able to transfer skills to the NHL.  Well, Connor McDavid shouldn't be thrown into that pile.  Just by watching the 19 year old forward, you can tell that the kid's is a different breed.  Many consider him in the same ilk as Sidney Crosby, but I believe the those making the comparison are secretly hedging that he will be the Sidney Crosby that Crosby himself never really blossomed into if that makes any sense.  McDavid has already had a stint on the IR which already makes the comparison eerily ironic.  In any case, we have already seen flashes of how electric he can be on the ice and should become one of the premier goal scorers in the league.  Connor McDavid will be a huge game changer for years to come.

2. Aaron Ekblad

The 20 year old first overall pick in the 2014 entry draft is already making a name for himself in his sophomore season.  Last year Aaron took home the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year) and yes, he's also already taken part in his first All-Star game and looked like he fit right in this year,  so it's safe to say that this Florida Panthers defense-man 's career is off to a fast start.    The young Ontario native is big, agile, and a great shooter.  There will be a long future of grateful goalies lucky enough to have Ekblad skating in front of them and offenses feeling fortunate to have him at the point.

3. Jack Eichel

The Buffalo Sabres are going through a major rebuilding stage and believe that the 20 year old Massachusetts will be their foundation.  Eichel went 2nd overall in the entry draft and is touted to be a future play maker.  The BU alumni led the nation in scoring in his freshman year and wracked up numerous accolades.  The Sabre center may have a tougher time getting his career off the ground because of the sub par talent surrounding him, but the individual talent is unequivocally present.


Each of the major four sports has seen it's fair share of legends walk into the sunset in recent years, but each has a bright future to look forward to.  The parameters unfortunately left out a few athletes that just miss the cusp such as Derek Jeter who has already been retired for over and season or guys like Jaimie Benn and Tyler Seguin from the Dallas Stars of whom are more of the NHL's immediate future, but did not fit in with  the parameters of "the new." These rankings are absolutely not perfect especially in its parameters, but I believe it at least gives the reader an overall picture of the recent past and future of each sport.


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I would like to thank my brother Eric and my friends Zach Schiff, Matt Ramsook, and James Potter for their input.  It really helped on writing this column!

resources:

<www.espn.com>

<www.baseball-reference.com>

<www.basketball-reference.com>

<www.hockey-reference.com>

<www.football-reference.com>

<www.wikipedia.com>

<www.sports.yahoo.com>

image locations:

Kobe Bryant: <http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/wDEEiFbG6wiAIks58FcMcQ--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3NfbGVnbztmaT1maWxsO2g9NjM4O2lsPXBsYW5lO3B5b2ZmPTA7cT03NTt3PTk2MA--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/afp.com/Part-GTY-508480826-1-1-1.jpg>

Peyton Manning: <http://cdn.newsday.com/polopoly_fs/1.3584943.1331129306!/httpImage/image.JPG_gen/derivatives/display_600/image.JPG>

Todd Gurley: <http://arizonasports.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/ToddGurley_MA3.jpg>

Karl-Anthony Towns: <http://img.bleacherreport.net/img/images/photos/003/455/573/hi-res-c3607623f8bd391398c27b133ebbef3d_crop_north.jpg?w=630&h=420&q=75>

Torii Hunter: <http://www.posters.ws/images/415120/torii_hunter_2002_alcs_catch.jpg>

Connor McDavid: <https://media.giphy.com/media/1hUs9eVa9oYOA/giphy.gif>